1946 Alabama Senate election

none June 2026 1946 Alabama Senate election Alabama legislative no 1942 Alabama Senate election 1942 1950 Alabama Senate election 1950 All 35 seats in the Alabama State Senate 18 November 5, 1946 File:James A. Simpson.jpg James A. Simpson(did not stand) Democratic Party (United States) 13th–Jefferson Co. November 16, 1942 35 seats, 99.41% 35 164,226 94.87% 3x4.svg — Republican Party (United States) — — 0 seats, 0.56% 0 8,889 5.13% File:1946 Alabama Senate election by vote share.svg 250px Winners by vote shareDemocratic: #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% #0D0596 90–100% #08034a Unopposed President pro tempore James A. Simpson Democratic Party (United States) J. Bruce Henderson Democratic Party (United States) The 1946 Alabama Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 5, 1946, to elect 35 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Alabama Senate. The election used the same districts first drawn by the Alabama Constitution of 1901. 32 of the 35 Democratic nominees did not face any opposition in the general election. As the Democratic Party was dominant in the state, state legislative seats were generally decided at the Democratic primary election. The first round of the Democratic primary was held on May 7 with runoff elections on June 4. Senator J. Bruce Henderson of Wilcox County was unanimously chosen to be President pro tempore of the Senate on January 14, 1947.Big Jim Folsom Wins Decisive Victory In First Test; Naming.. Speaker Of House https://www.newspapers.com/article/talladega-daily-home-and-our-mountain-ho/177986304/ 5 August 2025 Talladega Daily Home Associated Press 15 January 1947 The election took place concurrently with elections for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state house, and numerous other state and local offices. Summary Party Candidates SeatsNum.Vote%BeforeWon +/– Democratic 35 164,226 94.87% 35 35 Republican 3 8,889 5.13% 0 0 Total 38 173,115 100% 35 35 Incumbents Most incumbent senators in multi-county districts did not seek re-election, as a gentlemen's agreement compelled state senators to give up their seats to allow a candidate from another county to serve.Senate Rotation Object of Bill https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-advertiser-senate-rotation-object-of/175289970/ 25 June 2025 The Haleyville Advertiser 16 August 1957 Won re-election District 22: J. Bruce Henderson won re-election. District 24: Preston C. Clayton won re-election. District 28: Silas D. Cater won re-election. Cater succeeded Charles A. Stakley in January 1943 after his resignation. Eliminated in primary District 3: Finis St. John Jr. lost renomination to C. B. Harvey. District 8: Richard B. Kelly Jr. lost renomination to Graham Wright. Kelly succeeded Kenneth A. Roberts in May 1943 after his resignation. District 20: O. D. Carlton lost renomination to T. B. Perry. District 33: Vincent F. Kilborn lost renomination to Joseph N. Langan. District 11: Gordon Madison lost renomination to Henry H. Mize. Did not seek re-election 20em District 1: Orlan B. Hill unsuccessfully ran for a circuit court judgeship.County Races https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-florence-herald/178197834/ 5 August 2025 The Florence Herald 10 May 1946 District 2: Vernon L. St. John did not seek re-election. District 4: Charles E. Shaver did not seek re-election. District 5: J. B. Benson did not seek re-election. District 6: Sam High sought the state house seat from St. Clair County, but withdrew for unspecified reasons.Senator Sam High Withdraws From Legislative Race https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-aegis-senator-sam-high-withdraw/178209556/ 5 August 2025 Southern Aegis 15 March 1946 District 7: Elvin McCary unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.McCary Support Pledged To Inzer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-centreville-press-mccary-support-ple/178209584/ 5 August 2025 The Centreville Press 23 May 1946 District 9: Will O. Walton was elected a circuit court judge.Coley, Abbett, Lamberth, Duffee, Rains Win https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-alexander-city-outlook-coley-abbett/178209623/ 5 August 2025 The Alexander City Outlook 10 May 1946 District 10: Lee Hornsby did not seek re-election. Was subsequently elected to Elmore County's first state house seat after a special primary in July 1946.Lee Hornsby Winner Of Race In Elmore https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-lee-hornsby-winner-of/178209686/ 5 August 2025 The Anniston Star Associated Press 1 August 1946 District 12: Reuben Newton unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor.Mr. Inzer Wins https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-etowah-news-journal-mr-inzer-wins/178209941/ 5 August 2025 The Etowah News-Journal 6 June 1946 District 13: James A. Simpson unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate. District 14: John H. Pinson was elected to Sumter County's first state house seat.Slone Sam Probate Runoff Only Local Race https://www.newspapers.com/article/sumter-county-journal-probate-runoff-onl/178210023/ 5 August 2025 Sumter County Journal 9 May 1946 District 15: George M. Taylor did not seek re-election. District 16: J. Monroe Black did not seek re-election. District 17: Tully A. Goodwin did not seek re-election. District 18: T. J. Jones did not seek re-election. District 19: Gerald Bradford unsuccessfully ran for Clarke County's first state house seat.Garrett, Robinson, And Gillis Are Winners In The County https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-clarke-county-democrat-garrett-robi/178210243/ 5 August 2025 The Clarke County Democrat 9 May 1946 District 21: W. W. Garrett was elected to Monroe County's sole state house seat.Folsom Carried 47 Of Counties https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-folsom-carried-47-o/178210355/ 5 August 2025 The Huntsville Times Associated Press 11 June 1946 District 23: Douglas Brown did not seek re-election. District 25: M. N. Dodson did not seek re-election. District 26: Lawrence K. Andrews did not seek re-election. District 27: S. L. Toomer did not seek re-election. District 29: Lem J. Cobb unsuccessfully ran for Cherokee County's sole state house seat.List of legislators defeated https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-list-of-legislators/178210818/ 5 August 2025 The Birmingham News 12 May 1946 District 30: John L. Sherrer unsuccessfully ran for Dallas County's first state house seat.Poll Tax Main Issue In Sherrer's Defeat https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-poll-tax-main-issue/178210860/ 5 August 2025 The Huntsville Times 5 June 1946 Sherrer succeeded Edgar Poe Russell in March 1943 after his resignation in January 1943.John Sherrer Nominated To State Senate https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-john-sherrer-nom/178210878/ 5 August 2025 The Selma Times-Journal 27 January 1943 District 31: Jim Smith Jr. did not seek re-election. Unsuccessfully ran for the 1947 Alabama's 8th congressional district special election.Bob Jones Wins https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-progressive-age-bob-jones-wins/178210952/ 5 August 2025 The Progressive Age 24 October 1946 District 32: L. J. Lawson did not seek re-election. District 34: Charles S. Bentley did not seek re-election. District 35: M. W. Espy did not seek re-election. General election results By district District Democratic Republican Total Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Majority Mrg. Margin 3rd C. B. Harvey 8,561 63.75% J. T. Johnson 4,867 36.25% 13,428 +3,694 +27.51% 13th Albert Boutwell 29,514 93.90% H. H. Grooms 1,917 6.10% 31,431 +27,597 +87.80% 15th W. A. Gulledge 5,881 73.64% A. B. Baxley 2,105 26.36% 7,986 +3,776 +47.28% Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1947 (p. 499–501)Owen Marie B. Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1947 1947 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 427-429 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1947 5 August 2025 Elected without opposition Every candidate elected without an opponent was a Democrat. 20em District 1: David U. Patton received 4,587 votes. District 2: Noble J. Russell received 4,676 votes. District 4: R. J. Lowe received 3,765 votes. District 5: C. J. Owens received 4,150 votes. District 6: James B. Allen received 6,662 votes. District 7: Tom Blake Howle received 3,077 votes. District 8: Graham Wright received 2,632 votes. District 9: Paul J. Hooton received 3,728 votes. District 10: Broughton Lamberth received 5,010 votes. District 11: Henry H. Mize received 3,764 votes. District 12: Fuller Kimbrell received 7,725votes. District 14: W. E. Barrett received 2,339 votes. District 16: C. Mac Golson received 707 votes. District 17: R. G. Kendall Jr. received 4,671 votes. District 18: W. H. Cooper received 2,376 votes. District 19: Ben N. Glover received 3,572 votes. District 20: T. B. Perry received 1,349 votes. District 21: G. R. Swift received 4,833 votes. District 22: J. Bruce Henderson received 1,163 votes. District 23: J. A. Hughes received 3,212 votes. District 24: Preston C. Clayton received 1,526 votes. District 25: Vernon S. Summerlin received 4,599 votes. District 26: Forrest G. Bridges received 1,676 votes. District 27: A. L. Patterson received 2,449 votes. District 28: Silas D. Carter received 5,831 votes. District 29: T. F. Burnside received 6,684 votes. District 30: George P. Quarles received 1,980 votes. District 31: Rankin Fite received 7,453 votes. District 32: James S. Coleman Jr. received 1,725 votes. District 33: Joseph N. Langan received 5,102 votes. District 34: John E. Gaither received 4,436 votes. District 35: W. G. Hardwick received 2,811 votes. Democratic primary results Runoff results by district Candidates in boldface advanced to the general election. District Winner Loser Total Ref Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Majority Mrg. Margin 8th Graham Wright 3,099 66.54% Richard Kelly (inc.) 1,558 33.46% 4,657 +1,541 +33.09% Wright Beats Kelly In State Senate Race https://www.newspapers.com/article/alabama-journal-wright-beats-kelly-in-st/178199530/ 5 August 2025 Alabama Journal Associated Press 5 June 1946 13th Albert Boutwell 25,843 52.98% Emmett Perry 22,933 47.02% 48,776 +2,910 +5.97% An Entirely New Delegation https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-an-entirely-new-dele/178200551/ 5 August 2025 The Birmingham News 7 June 1946 31st Rankin Fite 7,205 53.78% W. B. Mixon 6,193 46.22% 13,398 +1,012 +7.55% Elected Senator https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-haleyville-advertiser-elected-senato/178203764/ 5 August 2025 The Haleyville Advertiser 6 June 1946 33rd Joseph N. Langan 9,109 62.26% Vincent Kilborn (inc.) 5,522 37.74% 14,631 +3,587 +24.52% Langan Wins Senate Seat From Mobile https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-langan-wins-se/178204077/ 5 August 2025 The Montgomery Advertiser Associated Press 5 June 1946 First round results by district Candidates in boldface advanced to either the general election or a runoff, first-place winners with an asterisk (*) did not face a runoff. District First place Runners-up Others Total Ref Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Votes Maj. Majority Mrg. Margin 2nd Noble J. Russell* 6,489 63.42% Rutledge Thomas 3,742 36.58% — — — 10,231 +2,747 +26.85% 3 Runoffs In Lawrence https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily/178198040/ 5 August 2025 The Decatur Daily 10 May 1946 3rd C. B. Harvey* 3,655 56.18% Finis St. John Jr. (inc.) 2,851 43.82% — — — 6,506 +804 +12.36% H. H. Kinney Re-Elected https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-may-12-1946/99944341/ 5 August 2025 The Decatur Daily 12 May 1946Cullman returns only. Harvey won all three counties. 5th C. J. Owens* 6,085 51.77% Claud D. Scruggs 5,669 48.23% — — — 11,754 +416 +3.54% Homer Clayton Elected Tuesday https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-albertville-herald-state-senate-dist/178198851/ 5 August 2025 The Albertville Herald 10 May 1946O'Neal Wins Out In Jackson Race https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-state-senate-distri/178198818/ 5 August 2025 The Huntsville Times 10 May 1946 7th Tom Blake Howle* 3,451 51.87% C. W. Daugette 3,202 48.13% — — — 6,653 +249 +3.74% Vaughan, Lamar On School Board https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-state-senate-district/178199273/ 5 August 2025 The Anniston Star 10 May 1946 8th Graham Wright* 2,071 54.72% Richard Kelly (inc.) 1,196 31.60% A. L. Hanks 518 13.69% 3,785 +875 +23.12% Run-Off Elections To Be Necessary In Several Major Races; Howell Leads Field https://www.newspapers.com/article/talladega-daily-home-and-our-mountain-ho/178199628/ 5 August 2025 Talladega Daily Home 8 May 1946 10th Broughton Lamberth* 6,146 53.93% Mack Jackson 5,250 46.07% — — — 11,396 +896 +7.86% Corprew, Elder Enter Runoff https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-alexander-city-outlook-corprew-elde/178200008/ 5 August 2025 The Alexander City Outlook 10 May 1946 11th Henry H. Mize* 6,138 63.86% Gordon Madison (inc.) 3,474 36.14% — — — 9,612 +2,664 +27.72% Veterans Take Over Political Circles In Recent Elections https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178200263/ 5 August 2025 The Birmingham News 12 May 1946 12th Fuller Kimbrell* 6,620 52.88% J. W. Ayres 5,900 47.12% — — — 12,520 +720 +5.75% State Seate Official Results https://www.newspapers.com/article/fayette-county-times-state-seate-officia/178200405/ 5 August 2025 Fayette County Times 9 May 1946 13th Albert Boutwell 18,665 39.82% Emmett Perry 12,798 27.30% 2 othersRoger Snyder: 8,338 votes, 17.79%; Jerry Phillips: 7,078 votes, 15.10% 15,416 32.89% 46,879 +5,867 +12.52% Luther Patrick Decides To Enter Runoff Race For Congressional Seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-luther-patrick-decid/178200764/ 5 August 2025 The Birmingham News 10 May 1946 14th W. E. Barrett* 1,162 63.02% J. T. Fendley 682 36.98% — — — 1,844 +480 +26.03% McConnell Leads In Probate Judge's Race https://www.newspapers.com/article/our-southern-home-mcconnell-leads-in-pro/178201096/ 5 August 2025 Our Southern Home 16 May 1946Sumter returns only. Barrett carried both counties. 15th W. A. Gulledge* 1,195 61.03% G. C. Walker 763 38.97% — — — 1,958 +432 +22.06% Official Count Brings Few Changes https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-prattville-progress-official-count-b/178201379/ 5 August 2025 The Prattville Progress 16 May 1946Autauga returns only. Gulledge carried Shelby and Autauga, and Walker carried Chilton. 19th Ben N. Glover* 6,136 53.17% Howard Scott 5,405 46.83% — — — 11,541 +731 +6.33% Mr. W. A. Gulledge, of Verbena, received the nomination for Senator from the 15th District.. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-prattville-progress-mr-w-a-gulled/178201296/ 5 August 2025 The Prattville Progress 16 May 1946 20th T. B. Perry* 2,027 53.12% O. D. Carlton (inc.) 1,789 46.88% — — — 3,816 +238 +6.24% Marengo County May 7th Primary Official Count https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-demopolis-times-marengo-county-may-7/178202108/ 5 August 2025 The Demopolis Times 9 May 1946 22nd J. Bruce Henderson (inc.)* Nominated Duck Sadler Lost — — — Unknown Sadler Duck To Fellow Citizens Of Wilcox County https://www.newspapers.com/article/wilcox-progressive-era-to-fellow-citizen/178202627/ 5 August 2025 Wilcox Progressive Era 23 May 1946Vote totals unknown 25th B. V. Summerlin* 4,520 57.06% C. M. Taylor 3,401 42.94% — — — 7,921 +1,119 +14.13% Summerlin Defeated Taylor For State Senator https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-enterprise-ledger-summerlin-defeated/178202840/ 5 August 2025 The Enterprise Ledger 17 May 1946 27th A. L. Patterson* 3,440 54.20% Jimmie Putnam 1,572 24.77% W. A. Dozier 1,335 21.03% 6,347 +1,868 +29.43% Patterson Elected To Senate And Ellis Leads In Gov. Race In Russell https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-phenix-girard-journal-patterson-elec/178203048/ 5 August 2025 The Phenix-Girard Journal 10 May 1946 28th Silas D. Cater (inc.)* 7,042 76.11% Charles B. Teasley 2,211 23.89% — — — 9,253 +4,831 +52.21% Busby's Election Unseats Veteran https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-busbys-electi/178203228/ 5 August 2025 The Montgomery Advertiser 9 May 1946 29th T. F. Burnside* 3,344 55.54% Lonnie G. McPherson 2,677 44.46% — — — 6,021 +667 +11.08% Folsom Leads In Governor's Race; Albert Rains Wins for Congress https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fort-payne-journal-folsom-leads-in-g/178203343/ 5 August 2025 The Fort Payne Journal 8 May 1946DeKalb returns only. 31st Rankin Fite 4,868 35.38% W. B. Mixon 4,530 32.92% R. L. Hill 4,363 31.71% 13,761 +338 +2.46% Official Marion Primary Figures https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-haleyville-advertiser-official-mario/178203609/ 5 August 2025 The Haleyville Advertiser 16 May 1946 32nd James S. Coleman Jr.* 1,242 66.95% W. P. Breen 613 33.05% — — — 1,855 +629 +33.91% Senate Seat Won By Coleman; Ramsey Gets House Seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/greensboro-watchman-senate-seat-won-by-c/178203922/ 5 August 2025 Greensboro Watchman 9 May 1946Hale returns only. Coleman carried both counties. 33rd Joseph N. Langan 5,438 48.22% Vincent Kilborn (inc.) 4,400 39.01% Alexander Foremen 1,440 12.77% 11,278 +1,038 +9.20% Mobile County Senator's Contest Goes To Run-Off https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-mobile-county-senat/178204170/ 5 August 2025 The Huntsville Times Associated Press 9 May 1946 34th John E. Gaither* 2,544 65.38% W. H. Howle 1,347 34.62% — — — 3,891 +1,197 +30.76% Gaither Is Winner https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleburne-news-gaither-is-winner/178204289/ 5 August 2025 The Cleburne News 9 May 1946Cleburne and Clay returns only, Gaither carried all three counties. Nominated without opposition The following candidates automatically won the Democratic nomination, as no opponent filed to run against them: 20em District 1: David U. Patton District 4: R. J. Lowe District 6: James B. Allen District 9: Paul J. Hooton District 16: C. Mac Golson District 17: R. G. Kendall Jr. District 18: W. H. Cooper District 21: G. R. Swift District 23: J. A. Hughes District 24: Preston C. Clayton District 26: Forrest G. Bridges District 30: George P. Quarles District 35: W. G. Hardwick 1943–1946 special elections District 28 (Montgomery) A special election in Senate District 28 (Montgomery County) was made necessary by the resignation of Charles A. Stakely in December 1942 upon his enlistment in the Navy. Twenty-one of the twenty-three members of the Montgomery County Democratic Executive Committee endorsed Silas D. Cater to fill the seat.Committee Picks Cater For Senate https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-committee-pick/178211253/ 5 August 2025 The Montgomery Advertiser 18 December 1942 Cater did not face opposition from any Republican or independent candidate. 1943 Alabama Senate District 28 special general electionJanuary 26, 1943Owen Marie B. Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1943 1943 Walker Printing Company Montgomery, Alabama 850 https://archive.org/details/alabama-official-statistical-register-1943 5 August 2025 Democratic Party (US) Silas D. Cater 571 100.00% N/A 571 100.00% District 30 (Dallas) A special election in Senate District 30 (Dallas County) was made necessary by the resignation of Edgar Poe Russell in January 1943 upon his appointment to the Alabama Department of Corrections by governor Chauncey Sparks. John L. Sherrer was nominated by the county Democratic executive committee unopposed, and did not face opposition from any Republican or independent candidate.John Sherrer Nominated To State Senate https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-john-sherrer-nom/178210878/ 5 August 2025 The Selma Times-Journal 27 January 1943 1943 Alabama Senate District 30 special general electionMarch 23, 1943 Democratic Party (US) John L. Sherrer 394 100.00% N/A 394 100.00% District 8 (Talladega) A special election in Senate District 3 (Talladega County) was made necessary by the resignation of Kenneth A. Roberts in March 1943 upon his enlistment in the Navy. Richard B. Kelly Jr., who placed third in the regular Democratic primary in 1942, was nominated by the county Democratic executive committee in March 1943, and did not face opposition from any Republican or independent candidate.Dick Kelly Picked By County Committee For State Senator Post During Meet Saturday https://www.newspapers.com/article/our-mountain-home-dick-kelly-picked-by-c/178211506/ 5 August 2025 Our Mountain Home 24 March 1943 1943 Alabama Senate District 8 special Democratic meetingMarch 20, 1943 Democratic Party (US) Richard B. Kelly Jr. 15 53.57% Democratic Party (US) C. A. Killough 12 42.86% Democratic Party (US) S. A. Burns 1 3.57% 28 100.00% 1943 Alabama Senate District 8 special general electionMay 11, 1943 Democratic Party (US) Richard B. Kelly Jr. 371 98.67% −1.33% 5 1.33% New 376 100.00% See also 1946 Alabama elections 1946 United States Senate special election in Alabama 1946 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama 1946 Alabama gubernatorial election 1946 United States elections References Senate Category:Alabama Senate elections Alabama Senate Category:November 1946 in the United States